Maharashtra to pay Rs 1.49 crore damages, minorities panel issues notice to chief secy

A financial aid of Rs 24.50 lakh has already been distributed through the district disaster management authority for 56 affected families and the repair of 42 affected houses. As per the panchnama by a tehsildar of Shahuwadi tehsil, an additional proposal of Rs 1.49 crore to distribute among the violence-affected individuals has been presented. The state government has accepted the proposal.

On July 14, 2024, Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje, former Rajya Sabha MP and son of Kolhapur LS MP Shahu Maharaj Chhatrapati, gave a call to his supporters to gather at the fort to remove encroachments that are harming the sanctity of the fort. The call, however, turned into a riotous situation where the alleged “Shiv Bhakts” vandalised the properties of Muslim residents in the vicinity and even attacked a local mosque. The incident took place around three kilometres from the fort in a village called Gajapur, where the residents claim they are not encroachers.

Since then, the issue has turned into a controversy with the opposition alleging ruling right-wing forces of purposely attacking Muslim areas. Kolhapur LS MP from Congress, too, took a hardened stand on the incident and visited the violence affected areas immediately and publicly showing discontent over the actions of his son Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati.

Meanwhile, the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) issued a notice to the Maharashtra Chief Secretary seeking a detailed report by August 13, 2024, on the Vishalgadh voilence. The NCM notice comes on the complaint filed by the Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh.

In its notice to the Chief Secretary, the Commission has asked the state government “to submit a detailed report in the matter before 13.08.2024 so as to place matter before the commission for the commission for consideration”.

“I am happy to see that the NCM has taken cognisance of my complaint on the atrocities and grievous injuries meted out to the Muslim community by extreme right-wing organisations under the garb of demolition. I’m committed and determined to ensure justice for my community. My fight will continue,” said Shaikh.

In his letter to the NCM, Shaikh had said that a conspiracy was orchestrated by “extremist right-wing organisations aimed at inciting violence and atrocities resulting in grievous injuries to minorities under the garb of an anti-encroachment drive at Vishalgad in Kolhapur”. “It must be noted the matter pertaining to the encroachments is sub-judice,” he added.